Over the years, we’ve gotten anecdotal reports of wildlife interacting with marine debris. One especially memorable report was during a school program, when a student told us about her father catching a large fish, cutting it open and finding a beer can inside! We are interested in compiling this information to learn about wildlife encounters with marine debris that might not otherwise get reported. See a gull interacting with garbage on the beach? Filleting a fish and find garbage inside? See a seal with a frisbee around its neck? We want to hear about your observations. We’d also love a photo(s) if possible.
This project is being conducted as part of the Gulf of Maine Marine Debris Action Plan. The information collected in this survey will be combined with stranding data and other data on marine debris to give us a better idea of how wildlife interact with debris, and help develop solutions.
To send us your report, click the link below to fill out a Google form:
Submit Observations